The Time The Realms Unite
Warning: This chapter contains major spoilers for How The Queen Stole Christmas with scenes that were included in it but will be told from the POV of the Gold Chronicles characters as well as scenes that were not included in it. Kat's Rumple will be referred to as Gold while mine will have his original name and my Archie will use his real name of Jiminy.
With Snapegirlkmf
Seven Springs Mountain Resort
Seven Springs, Pennsylvania
Gold Standard Verse
Winter, 2018
Archie and Lilly planned to spend their honeymoon at a resort recommended to them by Doctor Ozopov in one of his recent emails. It was called Seven Springs and located in Pennsylvania. Most people travelled there for the skiing in the winter but there were many other indoor activities that they could do. It was also an hour's drive away from the Flight 93 Memorial and Archie and Lilly wanted to go there during their visit.
"Forgive me if I want to spend the rest of the day in bed," Lilly murmured once they were alone in their room.
"Do you hear me complaining," her husband chuckled.
"No, I…oh!" she giggled when he pulled her onto the bed with him and kissed her deeply. Seconds later his phone rang.
"Oh this better be an emergency" he groaned and pulled it out of his jacket. "Hello? Victor, Victor, slow down! I can't understand a word you're saying. WHAT? Who has her? WHO HAS OUR GRANDDAUGHTER?" he demanded of the frantic phyisician
"Meredith? Archie, what's happened to Meredith?" Lilly asked frantically.
"She's been abducted…by the Queen of Hearts….Regina's mother. Regina is gone too. Snow and Cas are under the sleeping curse."
"Oh no! NO! Merri!" Lilly screamed, her fingers caressing her pendant anxiously.
Lilliana….the time the realms unite has come….unlock your memories….she heard a voice pleading.
"We'll catch the first flight out Victor," Archie was saying while Lilly sat on the edge of the bed, frozen in fear. After he hung up, he took her in his arms, terrified when her limbs felt like ice to his touch. "Lilly! Lilly, it's all right darling. We'll find her... Lilly, darling….speak to me!"
Images began to flash before Lilly's eyes that terrified her.
"Lilliana, Lilliana, take this…take it!"
She held out her hand, a coin with the symbol of a funnel cloud in its center in her palm, a coin that matched the one she now wore.
"Mama, I will stay and fight!"
"They're coming! Glinda, get her out of here now!"
"Papa, I am not leaving you here!"
"You must! They will kill you. SHE will kill you as she killed our good Queen Dorothy and your cousins."
"But where will I go?"
"The Enchanted Forest. You must bind your powers and live as a mortal or Zorinda will find you! When the time is right you will return and destroy the darkness. Go! GO!"
"Mama, Papa, I love you…" she sobbed.
"And we love you Lilliana. You are Lilliana Strogoff, daughter of Glinda the Good and the Great and Powerful Wizard of Oz. Never forget us, darling. Now go….go!"
She ran out of the palace, her vision blinded by tears. She heard screeching in the skies and a flock of mobat demons swooped down on her. She conjured a fireball and threw it at the leader then tossed the coin with her free hand, a funnel cloud spinning toward her.
I am Lilliana Strogoff, daughter of Glinda the Good and the Great and Powerful Wizard of Oz. I am the Guardian of the West Gate and Keeper of the Blade of Fire. I will bring the Balance between darkness and light.
She now held a baby in her arms, a boy barely a day old and removed a ruby tear shaped pendant from around her neck and pressed it against his chest. "Rumplestiltskin…" she murmured.
You are now the West Guardian, my son.
She conjured a piece of parchment and quill and scribbled a quite note.
This is your son. His name is Rumplestiltskin. Please take care of him. You are all he has now.
A girl with her face now stood before her, her heart in her hands. Her twin sister….Zorinda. She could only watch as Zorinda crushed her heart into dust. She would die but her son would live.
Ah so when Alemedia resurrected me, Ozmalita resurrected you.
Another face appeared before her eyes. A face she'd seen before in the memories of a terrified young girl under a deaging spell. The Queen of Hearts.
Not Cora, Queen of Hearts. Zorinda. Zorinda Strogoff….my sister. The Dark One.
Come and find her Lilliana. My Zelena will destroy you…unless I do it first.
"Lilly, Lilly, it's alright. We'll find her."
"We will," she said fiercely as she detached herself from his embrace and rose to her feet. "But first...there are some things I need to tell you." Her lips trembled. "Please don't think that I kept them from you deliberately. I just didn't remember. That was the price I had to pay for being reborn. My memories were cloaked until the terror of Meredith's abduction unlocked them."
"Reborn!"
"My true name is Lilliana Strogoff and I died almost four hundred years ago in another realm..." she began.
"W…What? What do you mean another realm? Not the realm Victor is from?"
"No. I was born and died four hundred years ago in Oz. I am the daughter of Glinda the Good and the Great and Powerful Wizard of Oz."
"Lilly, darling, you're in shock…"
"No I'm not!" she cried and he was blasted back onto the bed "Archie….oh my God….I am so sorry! I didn't mean to hurt you!"
"You have magic!" he exclaimed.
She held out her hands. Gold sparks emitted from her fingertips.
"I don't understand. When I died my powers should've passed to my son."
"Son? You mean the son that died."
She shook her head. "He lives…and his name is Rumplestiltskin."
Archie's mouth dropped open. "It's not possible! You can't…you can't be Rumple's mother!"
"I'll explain everything on the way. We need to be an open field for this to work." She smiled through her tears and held up the pendant. "And this will take us to Meredith!"
"What is it?"
"My good luck charm. An Ozian travel storm token. Natalie gave it to me for my birthday the first year we became friends. She said it would bring me good luck and I never believed her until now. She's from my world. It's the only way she could've gotten it."
He grabbed the keys to their rental car off the nightstand. "Just tell me where you want me to go!"
They drove for miles until Archie finally spotted an open field. He quickly turned off and shut off the engine. Lilly removed her pendant and tossed it, reaching for her husband's hand.
"Whatever happens don't let go!" she cried over the rising winds.
"Lilly, my gods…that's a tornado!" he screamed. "We have to get out of here!"
"No, we need to get in it!"
"Are you insane? We'll be killed!"
"Do you love me?"
"Yes."
"Do you trust me?"
"You know I do…"
"Then hold onto me and don't let go!" She threw her arms around him and held him tight as the cloud spun toward them. Archie closed his eyes, praying they wouldn't be torn apart.
Take me to Oz, she commanded it.
The Haunted Forest
Enchanted Forest Five
Gold Standard Verse
When Archie opened his eyes, they found themselves standing in a forest at nighttime. In front of them was a sign that read: HAUNTED FOREST: I'D TURN BACK IF I WERE YOU.
"I don't believe this! Lilly, we've walked onto the set of the Wizard of Oz!"
"No, we haven't. This is the Haunted Forest of Oz."
"It's real?"
"Very real. It was once the home of the dark witch Bastinda until Dorothy and my parents imprisoned her." She held out her hand and a lantern appeared in it.
"You told me you would explain everything so tell me…who are you? Who did I marry?"
"I'm still the same woman you fell in love with Archie. My past doesn't change that."
"But I don't know anything about your past except what you've told me. You were born in Victor's realm to a minor noble who basically sold you to your first husband to pay off his debts. You have a daughter named Cassandra and Meredith is your granddaughter. You're a child psychologist from Portland."
"In this life. In my previous life I was Lilliana Strogoff, the daughter of Glinda and the Wizard. I am also a direct descendant of the Ozian gods Aramon and Lurline and Hades and Persephone."
"Hades and Persephone are Greek gods, Lilly," he corrected.
"They are but they fled this world and created their own centuries ago," she explained while they walked. "Persephone's mother, Demeter had another husband chosen for her but when she fell in love with Hades and got pregnant Demeter cursed them."
"More curses," he grumbled, knocking branches out of his way with his umbrella. "What kind of curse?"
"That their children and their descendants would fight each other until their line died out," she replied grimly. "We had our Wars of the Roses centuries before it was fought in England but our houses were not Lancaster and York. They were Strogoff and Ozopov."
"Your surname sounds Russian."
"It is. Aramon was originally from Earth, born under the name Ivan Strogoff. He was a powerful magician in the court of Ivan the Terrible but he accidently discovered our world while he was trying to become powerful enough to defeat a rival witch. He fell in love with Hades and Persephone's daughter Lurline and she made him a god by giving him ambrosia. She named him Aramon which means 'wise one' in my language. Their daughter became the new Queen of Oz."
"Who were the Ozopov?"
Lilly went on to explain that a century before she was born cousins from Lurline's bloodline were married, one of them bearing the surname Ozopov.
"They had to seek the goddess' blessing to be married."
"Almost like the papal dispensation Henry VIII needed to marry Katherine of Aragon?" Archie inquired.
"Exactly the same. The goddess' blessing was given by the High Priestess of the Temple of Lurline. It was when they were wed that the curse started doing its work. Only queens ruled Oz since its beginning but Dimitri Ozopov wanted to change that so he murdered his Strogoff bride and ordered that all her female relations be killed. Most of them were. Others went into hiding. My grandmother was one of them. She raised Mama in obscurity but when the dark witches Bastinda and Nessarose threatened to destroy Oz the Ozopov were left with no other choice than to ally themselves with us."
She began to tell him of the legend of the Guardians of the Balance and the Talons of the Dragon, the two ancient orders charged with maintaining the peace and stability of all the realms created by Hades and Persephone.
"You're saying its possible there are six Enchanted Forests?"
"I'm saying there are six. Six worlds running parallel to each other. We may lead different lives in those realms or not exist at all."
His eyebrows rose into his hair. "Five different versions of me? I don't know whether to be fascinated or terrified but go on."
She told him of the arrival of Dorothy Gale, a young girl from Kansas brought to Oz by the goddess Ozmalita, chosen to stand at the South Gate, her powers unlocking the moment she arrived on Ozian soul.
"How much of the books and movies are true?"
Lilly shook her head. "Very little. You can't kill dark mages like Bastinda and Nessarose by dropping houses on them or throwing buckets of water. They are Alemedia's daughters, fathered by a mortal she seduced when her attempted seduction of Aramon failed. Only a completed Guardian circle could have defeated and trapped them in Ephesis but Dorothy was still a child and not strong enough with her magic. She eventually defeated Nessarose with Mama and Papa's help along with the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion."
"What about Bastinda?"
"She escaped the prison they trapped her in right after Zorinda and I were born." Lilly frowned. "And that's when I think my sister's soul was tainted by darkness."
"Tainted? How?"
"Before he was stripped of his own powers Hades bound Alemedia's as well. She cannot walk the mortal realm without a vessel." Lilly knelt and drew a figure in the ground with her finger. "So she created these. Three daggers. The ones who claim them become her vessels and serve her will."
"That's Rumple's Dark One dagger!" Archie exclaimed. "He was one of her vessels!"
"He was but I don't think he knew it. My sister was the first Dark One and what you've said proves a theory my mother had…that she has daggers hidden in all six realms and she intended for one of those daggers to fall into my son's hands and fulfill a prophecy that the darkest of curses would be taken by a Strogoff and broken by a Strogoff who would pay the ultimate price and turn the dagger on himself." Tears rolled down her cheeks. "But my son is alive…I've dreamt of him even with my memories cloaked."
Archie helped her to her feet and hugged her. "We'll find him darling…and we'll find Merri."
They continued walking until they spotted a castle in the distance. Lilly frowned.
"Something's not right…."
"What do you mean?"
"That's not Bastinda's castle."
"Honey, we've arrived a few hundred centuries too late for that."
"No…Archie…I don't think this is my Oz. I think it's yours."
"But this is where we wanted to be, isn't it?"
"I hope so. When I tossed the token I told it to bring us to us but I was thinking of my Oz…in Nonestica." She gasped. "No….It couldn't…."
"What?"
She shook her head and continued walking. When they approached the front doors to the castle Archie saw what looked like a circle with an eye in the center on them. He reached for the handle and attempted to open one of them but was blasted back.
"Of course she'd ward them," he panted as he rose to his feet.
Lilly held up her hand and pressed it against one of the markings, The door glowed and swung open.
"How did you do that?"
"That is the symbol of the Houses of Strogoff and Ozopov," she explained and ran inside, a sword appearing in her hand. "Zorinda!"
"Dammit Lilly, wait for me!" Archie yelled and ran in after her. He only had an umbrella and his fists but anything would do ina pinch. He was expecting a flock of guards, flying monkeys, anything to attack them but the castle appeared to be deserted. He could hear Lilly running through the halls calling out her granddaughter's name. He finally found her standing in a hall of mirrors holding a silver wand in her hand.
"Lilly?"
"Mama's wand," she murmured. "It's been used recently…."
"Lilly…"
"She enchanted it so that only a light mage could use it." Lilly waved her hand over it and an image appeared in one of the mirrors of Regina and Meredith wandering through the castle.
"Merri, look! It's a hall of mirrors like I saw in my dream! Maybe he's in there!"
"Let's look!"
Regina grabbed a torch and waved the wand over it to light it.
Meredith took Regina's hand in hers and to both girls shock their joined hands started to glow, extinguishing the torch.
"Nothing can hurt us if we stay together," Meredith murmured.
"Stay back," they heard a voice caution. "I repel magic and could drain you!"
"That sounds like Unca Rumple!' Regina cried. "It's okay Unca Rumple. It's me. I'm gonna get you out!"
"No please. I beg you. Keep back!"
Behind one of the mirrors was a man the mirror image of Rumple Gold but he was not Gold nor was he Lilly's son yet the null magic field he gave off seemed to have no effect on the children.
"It is Rumple!" Meredith exclaimed.
"Uh-huh and I'm bustin him outta there!" Regina pointed the wand at the mirror and began to chant in Ozian.
The wand sparkled with purple light and the glass shimmered as the wand obeyed the commands of the newest of Glinda's descendants.
"Gina it's working! It's working!" Meredith cheered.
"Let him OUT!" Regina screamed. The mirror shattered.
"You did it!" Meredith cried and threw her arms around the younger girl.
MacNamara scratched his head, puzzled. "How...how didn't I drain you?"
"You're free Unca Rumple! Free!" Regina hugged his legs.
"I'm sorry, sweetie, but my name is MacNamara," he said to her. Her face fell.
"You don't 'member me! She cursed you!" Regina wailed. "Okay...now I got it. I gotta give ya true love's kiss to wake you up!"
"Umm...Gina...I really don't think he's Mister Gold," Meredith protested.
"Yes he is. He's just cursed that's all."
"No, honey. My name is Robert MacNamara. I'm a US Marine Colonel, Ret."
"You're a soldier?" Meredith asked him.
"Yes, I am. Well, I'm retired now, but I worked Special Ops for twenty-five years. Now I just do defense contracts for the government."
"So how come you look like my Unca Rumple?" Regina demanded. "They make ya look like him so you can come to Storybrooke and do crazy experiments on us?"
"What?" Robert stared at her. "No. I wouldn't do that. What do you mean?"
"Like zap us and stuff like that. Cut us open..." She shivered.
"I have a question of my own," Pallux spoke up. "Commander Ozopov released you eighteen years ago. How in the world did you end up here?"
MacNamara looked horrified. "You mean scientific experiments? No Marine would ever do that." He looked at Pallux.
Pallux scowled at him. "Your mission was to deliver the Book of the Ancients to the chief Guardian of this realm and we both know you had another, more personal reason for finding him, don't we?"
"Yes. But I won't discuss that now. It's classified," Robert snapped. "As to how I ended up here, the green witch nabbed me as I was on the way through the forest to use the portal the Commander showed me. And I've been her prisoner for all this time-only time isn't the same here as elsewhere now is it? Because I haven't aged."
"No but you still look like Unca Rumple," Regina reminded him. "And now that we got you out, you wanna help us get back at her?"
Pallux laughed. "You're going to enjoy this, MacNamara. These girls can cook up some pretty hefty mischief."
"All right girls, I'm in."
"Yay! Let's go witch hunting!" Regina cheered.
"Lilly, who was that man? He looks like Rumple. Is that your son?"
"No," she murmured. "If he were here, I'd feel it." She held out the wand. "Take me to Meredith and Regina," she commanded it. The wand floated out of her hands and down the hallway. "Follow it Archie!" she cried.
The wand took them deeper into the woods. They could see a faint orange light in the distance.
"Smells like something's cooking." Archie observed. When they stepped out from behind the trees they could see two mobat demons turning a spit with a human tied to it. "Oh…my God….they're…they're…EATING someone!"
"Ummm…yes…" Lilly fought back the urge to vomit.
"Let's get out of here before we're the next course and are those….Barbies?" Archie took off his glasses and wiped them on his jacket.
"They're lifesize Barbies but how…?"
"There's only one person I know that would have made that possible, Regina. They're here."
"Are you sure Archie?"
"Rumple told me Regina had a dream once where she made a group of Barbies come to life to terrorize a wicked witch named Zelena and you told me before we got here that Zorinda has a daughter named Zelena. She has the girls. I'm certain of it."
"Ding dong the witch is dead
Which old witch
The wicked witch
Ding dong the wicked witch is dead," the mobats sang. "You're looking for the witch? She's right here!" They pointed to the spit.
"You…you cooked her?" Archie sputtered.
"We were hungry."
He felt the bile rise in his throat and pulled Lilly aside. "Honey, you don't think they…."
"That is what I am going to find out! I am Lilliana Strogoff, West Guardian, now WHERE IS MY GRANDDAUGHTER?!" A fireball appeared in her hands.
One of the mobats flew over to her and tucked in its wings in submission.
"Your granddaughter and niece are safe, Mistress. Skytreader took them home."
Lilly choked back tears and pressed her hand to her chest. "Oh thank the gods! Archie, they're safe! They're safe. HE took them home!"
"Who took them home?"
She smiled. "A very old friend."
Loki stepped out of the trees with his great-grandson Robert at his side. Lilly clenched her hand into a fist, pressed it against her shoulder and knelt at the feet of the man who had been like an uncle to her most of her life.
Still like many women who encountered the attractive Norse god, her mother included, Lilly had taken a fancy to him in her pubescent years.
"Hello Loki. It has been a long time."
Loki smiled. "Too long, darling. But the Fates wheel comes full circle as always. And the Light is reborn." He walked over and hugged her.
"I couldn't rest...not until I was certain my son was safe...and I longed for a different life…"
"There's nothing wrong with that, Lilly. Blood is the tie that binds the most." Loki said softly, releasing her.
"I'm still trying to process it all...my wife a four-hundred-year old reincarnated demigoddess..." Archie murmured.
"It's a bit of a leap of faith," Loki admitted. "You should talk to my great-grandson over there. He has just as much adjusting to do considering he has my immortal family and his own to deal with. And his sister and brother don't even know he exists yet."
"I love Lilly no matter what she is...or was...but then...I now have a stepson three years older than me!"
Loki laughed. "You'll get used to it. We immortals sort of quit counting years after awhile. And Bobby there has a great-aunt who is only two. That's my youngest, Astra."
Ah Lita, you have chosen well, Loki thought as he observed Lilly's interactions with her bondmate.
"Where is my granddaughter, Loki? Is she safe?"
"I sent her home to Rumple's house with Regina in Storybrooke."
"Oh thank the gods!" Archie breathed a sigh of relief. "Lilly and I thought Zorinda might have taken her to Oz but when we tried to access Lilly's world through a portal we were sent to thins one."
"It's almost as if my world, as if Nonestica, no longer exists!" Lilly exclaimed.
"I'm afraid it doesn't darling," Loki said sadly. "It was destroyed eight years ago. The horror of its destruction was felt across the worlds...all the gods wept."
"A whole world was destroyed? How did that happen?" Robert demanded. "Why?"
Archie gasped. "You couldn't prevent it? With all your powers?"
"Only the Nonestican Guardians could have prevented it," Loki replied.
"There was a prophecy spoken by our god Aramon after Nonestica's creation that if the balance between darkness and light was not restored before the second double eclipse, my world and all in it would die." A tear slid down Lilly's cheek. "Lurline was so angered by Aramon's words that she stripped him of his powers and locked him in the Ozian Hell realm. There would be two double eclipses within thirty days of each other exactly five hundred years to the day the prophecy was spoken."
"So how did it happen? Was it like a nuclear war?" Loki's great-grandson inquired.
"Imagine every disaster movie ever made."
"My God!"
"Your son, dear Lilly and his fellow Guardians were able to save people from all the realms...except a great number of the adult population of Oz. His cousin sealed all the portals to Oz off once the children and those who wished to leave were evacuated."
"Then Aramon's words were true...the emerald that stored Lurline's life force was found and destroyed, triggering the destruction."
"Indeed it was. By Alemedia using one of Lurline's own descendants from the House of Ozopov as her vessel before she returned to one of the two she was controlling at the time."
"How was my stepson able to save everyone they could?"
"'His cousin Lavinia sent a message to him before the final eclipse. The Guardians combined their powers and opened portals to all the realms to start the evacuations. Regina was sent through to evacuate the Enchanted Forest and barely escaped as she was still there when the destruction began. The Forest was the last realm to fall. We still hear the screams of those left behind to this day."
"How is it that all of you aren't crazy from feeling that?" Archie wanted know.
Lilly leaned against the trunk of one of the trees, weeping brokenly. "She divided them...it was the only way the prophecy came to pass."
"It is not easy, believe me, Doctor. But in death there is life and those who survived have given birth to new generations who honor those they lost."
Loki glanced over at Lilly. "And you are correct. Hades's bitch of a daughter Alemedia split her essence between the South Guardian and her bondmate to stir up discontent against Lurline's bloodline in Oz."
"Two Dark Ones..." Lilly murmured.
He went a put an arm around Lilly, letting her lean against him. Then he handed her a green handkerchief with a stylized L on it.
"Thank you, " she sniffled.
"He was the Savior as Aramon said he would be." She smiled at Loki. "And now the mantle passes to your great-grandchildren, my friend. Those of your blood are now the Guardians of this realm."
Yes, but first they have to pass the tests," the god sighed. "And defeat Zorinda."
"And they will."
Loki sighed heavily. "The bitter blood feud between your houses served the darkness' purpose well, darling. The circle, as you know, Lilly was created to maintain the Balance between darkness and light. It was also meant to unite the warring Houses of Strogoff and Ozopov."
"You make it sound like the Wars of the Roses, Loki."
"It was Bobby. And it began when Lurline and Alemedia still walked the mortal realm. Lurline was crowned Queen of the Realm. She ruled over all of Nonestica alone for a century until a man named Ivan Strogoff crossed over into that world from Midgard."
"Midgard?"
"That's what the Norse pantheon calls Earth, Archie." Lilly clarified.
"Oh."
"Ivan was a powerful sorcerer from the land you know as Russia, Bobby. It is also the same place your sister Rhea's captor Baba Yaga crossed over from but in that world her name was Irina Fedorovna."
"She was a sorceress and Ivan's apprentice at one time according to what my mother told me," Lilly added. "She wanted to marry Ivan but he refused her, so she started studying the dark magic from the witches and warlocks of Scotland and Ireland."
"The McDermott clan. Lilly, your son's father is one of their descendants."
"What?" She was horrified.
"You didn't sense his aura, darling?"
"No…I just thought he was a local boy. I was on the run from Zorinda, terrified…."
"And vulnerable. You may not like hearing this Lilly, but I suspect your meeting with Malcolm all those centuries ago was no coincidence. I believe it was Alemedia's plan to breed a Strogoff vessel on you and to give Dorothy and Nick Chopper part of her darkness to divide the Ozopov."
"Why?" Archie demanded angrily. "Why her? Why do this to Lilly?" He drew her closer.
"Lilliana had the purest heart in that incarnation of the circle, Archie. At that time Lilly stood at the West Gate, Zorinda the South, Ozma Ozopov the North and her sister Oksana at the East."
"Zorinda killed them all but me. She found me right after Rumple was born. I felt…" Lilly burst into tears. "I felt the only place he would be safe was with his father and HE didn't want our son….he wanted his power…the power of a demigod."
"Not Ozma darling. She went into hiding and was restored to the throne two decades later," Loki corrected.
"So what happened that started this whole blood war?"
"My family was cursed Bobby," Lilly replied. "I am a direct descendant of Hades and Persephone. We were cursed by her mother Demeter to fight each other until our bloodline died out."
"Wait a minute…the Greek gods Hades and Persephone?"
"Yes. Lurline and Alemedia are their daughters. They created Nonestica and the five realms that run parallel to it but Alemedia had Persephone killed and Hades is trapped in what you call the Underworld but to us it's the Ozian Hell Realm Ephesis."
"Hades was contained because his actions were causing major shifts in the Balance. When Zeus stopped his heart and stripped him of his powers all the pantheons breathed a sigh of relief but Alemedia is far worse." Loki's eyes narrowed to slits. "SHE is partially responsible for our family's tragedies, Bobby. I once threatened to call a blood feud against the Greek and Ozian pantheons but it was Ozmalita that stayed my hand."
"Who is Ozmalita?"
"She's had many names when she's walked the mortal realm but her latest incarnation is Natalie Durant," Lilly replied. "She is Hades and Persephone's youngest daughter and the Keeper of Souls. She decides whether a soul goes to Paradise or Ephesis."
"Ozmalita also chooses the bondmates for the Guardians and helps to maintain the Balance though she too has disrupted it on occasion." He smiled at Archie. "You are not aware of it but met you years ago."
"You did? How?"
"Why that little sneak…" Lilly giggled. "Archie, Natalie is Ozmalita."
"What?"
"Once I learned Ozmalita resurrected you I made it clear she was to choose a bondmate worthy of you Lilly, so she brought me to you Archie. You were sleeping and though Ozmalita may have chosen you, your bond had to grow on its own and it did."
"No offense but please don't meddle in my love life!" Bobby exclaimed.
"I won't as long as you date suitable women."
Bobby grinned. "You mean the ones who entertain the Seventh Fleet."
"You touch one of those and I'll turn you into a eunuch….if it doesn't rot off first!"
"There's plenty left if any of you care for a bite," one of the Cannibal Barbies said while she picked her teeth with a small bone.
"No, thank you. That one would make me sick," Loki declined. "Too much bile."
Archie held up his hand. "We ahhh...had a big lunch on the plane."
Lilly covered her mouth with her hand and giggled.
"I know I shouldn't be laughing but I couldn't help it!"
One of the mobats tossed some meat in a bowl and poured in garlic and parmesan cheese.
"To each their own," Robert shrugged.
"It's nice to hear you laugh again, darling," Loki remarked, his emerald eyes twinkling.
"I have reasons to now. I have finally met a man I could love and who loves me. Our granddaughter...well...she's had some issues, but we'll work through them and I will finally get to see my son!"
"You will. And your granddaughter is the new Guardian of the North, Lilly." Loki informed her.
"What…what? Merri? But how?"
"She has proven herself worthy of the burden, Lilly. She stands at the North as Zorinda's daughter stands at the South. One born in light, one born in darkness. Now that your powers have returned, you See the truth, don't you."
Lilly nodded sadly. "Merri's soul was tainted by darkness…Alemedia's darkness and so was my daughter's. I've regained some of the Eye of Aramon but my son now has its full power."
"I tried to lessen its effects the best I could Lilly."
"I know you did old friend and I thank you for that. The rest is up to us now."
"Regina is the other guardian?" Archie asked.
"Merri's symbol would be earth themed and Regina's the chalice for water," Lilly clarified.
"She bears the cricket," Loki told her, smiling.
"Oh, how wonderful! In your honor Archie!" she cried. "She could have chosen any earth symbol she wished but she chose the cricket!"
"Then let's go home. That granddaughter of mine is getting the biggest hug from her cricket grandpa."
Lilly reached into the pocket of her slacks and took out her travel storm token. "You might want to stand back...these travel storms can be fierce at times."
She started to hand Loki back his handkerchief, but the god shook his head. "Keep it. A token to remember the handkerchief trick I played with you as a child."
She chuckled. "That smeared green ink all over my face that it took two days to wash off!"
"Ah, but I made you laugh. So it was worth it," the God of Mischief smirked.
"May Loki bring you laughter wherever you go," Lilly quoted softly.
"Thank the gods you two are old friends otherwise I'd be thinking you're flirting with my wife," Archie laughed.
"He was more of an uncle to me but...the ladies in my father's court swooned over him."
"You get that a lot, don"t you?" Robert remarked.
"I do," the god nodded. "And you have inherited your share of it, grandson."
"My father prided himself on being the king of tricks but you unseated the Great and Powerful Wizard of Oz! "Lilly laughed.
"Now that was one of my best tricks," the mischievous god agreed. "I enjoyed that immensely."
"You had to prove he was worthy of your Glinda." Lilly smirked. "Mama had a bit of a crush..."
"On Loki?" Archie queried.
"Yes. He was a friend of the family, but Mama flirted with him constantly when she was a teenager. He called her Glinda the Naughty."
"You were flirting with girls when you were married?" Robert frowned.
"No. I was between marriages then," Loki answered. "Sigyn's only been my wife for the past nine hundred years."
"And Loki tried, tried to keep Mama honest but she chased him!"
"And how!" Loki chuckled. "I went for a swim in one of the natural forest pools and she stole my clothes! Then she jumped in the water after me. And a procession was coming by so I couldn't get out. I ended up transforming into an otter. Then I tried to slip out of the pool, but Glinda started shouting that her pet otter had escaped her and one of the lords chased me with his dog until I dived back into the pool to get away from the stinking drooling animal . . . and right into Glinda's arms."
"Then my grandfather caught you!"
Robert started laughing. "I'll bet you had a hard time explaining that one away!"
"Not as hard as Mama!"
Her grandfather Ozarian had been less than pleased seeing his daughter behaving like a wanton.
"Ozarian was furious, he had seen everything that went on through his Seeing Globe," Loki explained. "He wanted to tie her to a post and whip her, but I refused to let him do that. I don't believe in beating children who misbehave. So I told him I would deal with her myself."
"My grandfather was vicious like Zorinda."
"What did you do?" Archie wanted to know.
"He was a nasty piece of work, wanting to whip a fourteen year old for being spirited and having a crush," Loki frowned. "So I pretended to be angry and Glinda and I tricked him. I pretended to paddle her in front of him, it was all an illusion, and then I told him she was going to be my servant for a month. That was true. But she served as my apprentice and I taught her magic."
"And she called herself Glinda the Good," Lilly added.
"Because I was always telling her to be good," Loki said.
"And she was from that time on." Lilly tossed the coin into the clearing and a large funnel cloud formed.
"You never heard of the slippers?" Robert joked.
"Zelena had them," Loki murmured. "Let's see if they survived the bonfire."
Lilly gestured and the coin returned to her hand. "If they create portals it will be easier to use them."
Loki strolled over to where the girls and the monkeys were eating. "Ladies, would you happen to know if you removed a pair of silver slippers from this bitch before you cooked her?"
"We did." Witch Hunter Barbie set a pair of silver shoes on the table.
"Thank you, darlings." Loki drawled. He picked up the shoes. "Lilly, these belong to you."
"Me? Why?"
"Better check for fungus!" Robert joked.
"I'm going to disinfect them first, Lilly," Loki said and did so with a quick scouring spell. "There! As to why, do you wish me to give them to someone else to use after you finish with them? They are an Ozian relic."
She smiled wistfully. "I miss laying by the lake at Finaqua."
She took off her boots and put on the slippers, tapping the heels three times. Archie clasped his hand in hers and the couple vanished in a puff of green smoke.
Storybrooke Five
Gold Standard Verse
The couple reappeared outside Rumple Gold's Victorian. They ran to the front door and began to pound on it frantically.
"Okay, okay hold your water!" they heard the Golds' adopted son Jimmy shout from the other side before he opened it. "Lilly! Archie! Thank God you guys are here."
"Where's Meredith? Is she all right?" Lilly asked worriedly.
"She's fine, she's fine, just having a snack with Regina and her parents. Hey Merri! Your grandparents are here!"
Her adoptive parents, Lilly thought. Regina Strogoff….my niece….but she will never know it.
"Gramma! Grampa!" Meredith cried and ran out of the kitchen with Regina at her heels, her arms outstretched. Lilly scooped her grandchild up in her arms and held her tightly, the others astounded to see a glowing shield over them.
"Whoa! What is that?" Jimmy exclaimed. "Alina, Henry? Did you do that?"
"That's not our magic," Alina searched out with her mage's senses, gasping in shock when she discovered its source. "Lilly! It's coming from you!"
"I know it is," she sniffled when she handed Meredith to Archie.
"Grampa, I'm really sorry I was so mean to you! I won't be anymore!" Meredith sobbed into his shoulder.
"It's okay honey. We're just so glad you're safe!"
"Skytreader got us home. He's really nice Grampa."
"I know. We talked to him before we came here. He's an old friend of Gramma's."
"He is? How come you didn't tell me, Gramma?"
"Because I didn't remember, sweetie but I am so happy he was able to find you and take care of you."
"Lilly, what's going on? Why is that shield over you?" Belle asked.
"You all might want to sit down. It's a long story."
"And you two must be hungry. Come on. I'll make you a snack," Alice Carstairs offered. Regina and Meredith went into with the Gold's housekeeper for a snack of macaroni and cheese and hot dogs while Lilly began her story. The others stared at her in shock once she finished her tale except Jimmy who didn't seem surprised at all.
"Hook used to talk about there being six worlds but I thought he was full of crap. Now you're telling us its true?"
"It is. Sadly I am from the original one that no longer exists."
Charming laughed. "And you're that world's Rumplestiltskin's mother and Archie is his stepfather! How is he handling that?"
"I'll know soon enough when I meet him," Archie mumbled. "He didn't even know Lilly was reborn until now."
"Because the Ozian Keeper of Souls cloaked my memories and bound my magic. Had she not done so Rumple would've been able to locate me but so could Zorinda. She wants to finish what she started four hundred years ago. She wants me dead."
"And our daughter but over our dead bodies first!" Snow growled.
"No, she wants to turn Regina back into what she was…a child born in darkness…like Merri and Cassie."
"What?" Alina exclaimed.
"Meredith isn't aware of this and neither was I until my powers returned but she is also a soul that's been reborn. My daughter Cassie was pregnant during the Final Eclipse but she miscarried her first child when she was exposed to toxic levels of mercury at a restaurant. Ozmalita, the goddess of souls took Merri's soul into her keeping but she wasn't aware it had already been tainted by Alemedia's darkness."
"Who is Alemedia?" Henry wanted to know.
"She's our version of Satan," Jimmy replied.
"Great, so the devil's a woman. Knew you ladies always had a bit of evil in ya!" Jeff teased. All pairs of female eyes in the room gave him a look, babies included. "Whoa! Okay, okay I'm sorry! Don't roast me!"
"So what do we do about Cora now that we know who she really is?" Bae asked.
"There is only one weapon powerful enough to defeat her. Aramon's Talisman. It has the power to render any mage, even a god powerless for a short period of time but if you hold it against their hearts it strips them of their powers completely."
"Where do we find it?" Emma demanded.
"Our only hope is that my son was able to retrieve it from Oz before Nonestica was destroyed. Its hiding place was the original temple of the goddess Lurline. It was eventually turned into the burial vaults of the royal Houses of Strogoff and Ozopov but Nonestica was destroyed eight years ago. If we've lost the pendant your Rumple and my son are the only two people powerful enough defeat Zorinda. A demigod can only be killed by another demigod and only a god can kill another god."
"Whoa…" Bae muttered. "This is gonna be one helluva battle."
The others nodded in agreement. A short time later Loki arrived with Bobby and everyone was stunned when Archie's Nonestican counterpart also arrived, a powerful magician in his own realm. Rumple had also returned home along with Rhea. Lilly enjoyed seeing the Laufeyson siblings united but she still longed to see her own son.
"Okay Rumfather, cut the crap and show yourself!" Jiminy Ozopov laughed after they heard him angrily curse his father.
"I would if I could dearie but I'm still laid up from these damn gallstones as you know!" she heard her son snap.
"Are you astral projecting again, Strogoff?" Loki demanded. "You know that's exhausting in your condition."
"Yes I know and Belle is sitting here with a book ready to throw at me but I wanted to see everyone there."
Loki sighed. "You as stubborn as any of my grandsons. I could have sent you pictures."
"I get it from my mother."
"Can you appear if I anchor you darling?" Lilly inquired softly.
"I don't know Mama. You gave most of your magic to me before you died."
"I can lend you some of mine. But be warned, my magic will feel like the best thing you ever felt in your life, but once I remove the link it's going to knock you on your back for a few hours." Loki informed him.
"That will make Belle happy. I would ask my great-grandfather or whatever the hell Hades is but I'm pissed at him at the moment because he should've made sure Zorinda was locked up!"
"All right, you can throw fireballs at Hades later," Loki chuckled. "Ready?"
"I'm ready."
Lilly's eyes filled with tears as her son appeared in the room in a grey dragonscale leather coat, silk shirt and pants. He was the mirror image of Gold but there was more silver in his hair. Lilly gasped knowing what those silver strands signified. Her son had surrendered large portions of his life force to others.
"Mama...I've waited so long for this...to see you!" he sobbed, holding her tightly.
"I know darling," she wept. "Thank you Loki! Thank you so much for letting him come to me!"
"You're welcome, Lilly. You know me. I'm a sucker for family reunions."
"Look at you! Look at him, Archie."
"If I didn't know there were six of you, I'd think I'd need to get my eyes checked," Archie joked and held out his hand to his stepson.
"Dinna be expecting me to call ye Dad, dearie. Ye're three years younger than me."
"Try a few centuries!"
Meredith hopped off the sofa and stared up at him. "Are you really my uncle?"
Rumple knelt beside her grateful Loki's powers had restored his leg for the time being. He knew it would hurt like hell along with everything else later, but it would be worth it to see his mother again.
"I am and I hae two wee ones close to yer age."
"How come you talk funny?"
"My accent ye mean? It's my natural accent. But I can talk more like Mr. Gold if you like," he said and switched to his English accent.
"That's better. I can understand you now."
"I have more grandchildren, Rumple?"
"Yes Mama. Bae is my oldest then I have Hope, Nathaniel, Ian and Fiona."
"Wonderful! More grandchildren to spoil and send home!" Archie said with a smirk.
"Thanks…Dad!" Rumple groaned. "They're spoiled enough by me and their mum! Mama, I think you, Archie, Merri and Regina should go back to Juno with me."
"Why?"
"We have stronger wards there. Zorinda's going to try to come after you again now that you have your memories back and she's not finished with Regina yet. She will try to reverse her deaging. And Snow, you and David should come as well."
"I can stay here and keep an eye on them Rum," Jiminy spoke up.
"I may need you to check the other Storybrookes. Alemedia is not a fool. She's created more Dark One daggers and I have no doubt she's hidden them there. They all have to be neutralized and if Zorinda gets hold of one of them she becomes the Dark One again."
"We have to tell the others where the other Storybrookes are. We might need their help monitoring them. And they need to be told about the Home Office."
"I haven't forgotten that. Has Archie seen them in Storybrooke Two?"
"No. Not since Pan was killed there. Doesn't mean they won't try to go back."
"All right you two. What is going on?" Lilly demanded. "Are we under another threat besides my sister?"
Rumple sighed deeply. "Yes, Mama."
"Out with it. Now!"
"Everyone is having such a wonderful time."
"Rumplestiltskin Strogoff-Gold, if you know there is other danger, you will speak up or by the goddess I will summon a seeing globe and find out myself! Now what is this Home Office you're talking about?"
"They're based in England, Mama and they're...they're killing people from all the realms. Mages are their primary targets. We thought it was just some cult Pan made up until I got a call from one of the other Jiminys from what's called 'The Wish Realm'. He worked at the NSA here and was using his job as cover to track them."
"Storybrooke Two's Archie had a twin named Silas. Silas was a Dark One working for them, killing fairy tale creatures and mages across the country," Jiminy added. "My brother David almost caught him in San Francisco but he got away. Silas is dead now but there are still a lot of members in that organization."
"Do you think my sister might be working with them?"
"It's possible."
"Birds of a feather," Gold muttered.
"You heard all that?" Rumple asked him.
"I'm not deaf yet, dearie," he quipped.
"You can thank the bastard that spawned me for it. The Home Office started when he tried to abduct the Darling boys and took their sister instead. It made them want to destroy all magic but they changed their minds after they helped us defeat Pan. I cannot say the same for their followers. They left the order and formed their own branch that destroys all magical creatures and the safe havens we create."
"That's another reason why we're here. We're trying to warn everyone about them so they can be ready," Jiminy said.
"Then we should start work on the talisman and the emerald soon," Lilly suggested.
"Is it always like this where you're from? Not a moment's peace?" Emma inquired of Jiminy and Rumple.
"Not always dearie. We had seven years of peace and quiet but that was because we didn't know what was going on in the other Storybrookes."
"The Balance is shifting...the darkness has grown more powerful in those seven years because the other realms were not closely monitored," Loki added.
"Not to mention the pirate menace in our seas," Rhea snarled.
"We're all gonna need a LONG vacation after this!" Bae joked.
"Cool! I wanna go to New York again!" Regina squealed.
Gold groaned.
"Something wrong Rumple. You're looking a bit pale," Robert observed. "Why does the idea of going to New York again make you look like you want to crawl in a hole?"
"Oh brother dearie if you only knew!"
"And beware on Thanksgiving. You eat turkey expect the Queen here to be outside your house staging a protest," Jeff added.
"W...What? But you're supposed to eat turkey on Thanksgiving!" Robert gaped at the child.
"Nuh-uh! You better eat pizza Unca Bobby or m'gonna find out where you live an protest till you do!"
"If I wanna eat turkey, I' m gonna eat turkey," Robert said defiantly. "Just try and stop me."
Regina jumped off the sofa and ran over to him, her chin puffed out. "You're on, Unca Bobby!"
"Uh-oh, Regina's layin the smackdown!" Henry laughed.
"My poor uncle has NO idea what he's getting himself into!" Alina giggled.
"This I have to see!" Loki snickered.
"Well take a seat an bring some popcorn 'cause I'm gonna do it!"
"We don't eat turkey at our house. Grampa doesn't want to," Meredith spoke up.
"Yeah 'cause he was on MY side!"
Jiminy Ozopov doubled over laughing. "This...this reminds me of us that night we got arrested...right, Rumfather?"
"Dearie, I was not the one who decided to stage a sit-in in the lobby of the police station. That was Belle's idea and you and Az encouraged it."
"What's a sit in?" Regina wanted to know.
"Never you mind Regina Nolan!"
"But Daddy I wanna know."
"No you don't."
"I'll find out," the former queen said determinedly.
"Might as well tell her Dad. She's gonna keep at it til you do anyway," Emma advised.
"Later."
"But Daddy..."
"Later, Regina," Snow said firmly.
"Okay Mommy."
"I suppose we'd best get started making the talismans," Gold said.
"I'll go get dinner ready. I have a feeling you mages are gonna be working up quite the appetite," Alice offered.
"Ah, make my son a light meal please. He just had gallstones removed and is on a strict diet."
"Mama!" Rumple protested. Gold laughed.
"Laugh it up Gold and we'll be seeing how funny it is when YE are havin gallstones removed, dearie!"
"I eat healthier than you obviously, dearie!"
The two Rumples glared at each other.
"Do we have to put you in separate corners? Behave Rumple!" Daria scolded her son.
"And YOU Rumple, take that scowl off your face or you will be facing a wall!" Lilly threatened her son.
"Mama, I'm three hundred and fifty-six years old, not six!"
"I don't care if you're five hundred young man! I'll still put you in the corner!"
Archie snickered.
"Ha ha, very funny…Dad!" Rumple snorted.
"That's right I am your father and you're supposed to respect me."
"Wanna be turned back into a cricket, dearie?"
"Do it and I'll bind your magic for a month," Lilly grinned, summoning Aramon's Talisman to her.
"Mama!"
Meredith was giggling. "I can't help it Gramma. It's too funny."
"Yes it is but Mama in all seriousness I want you and Archie to come to Juno with me."
"I may not have all my powers but I'm still a Guardian Rumple!"
"You don't know, do you?"
"Know what?"
He stared at her.
"I'm not afraid to face my sister again. Stop staring at me like that!"
"You have more to protect this time, Mama. Archie, Meredith and your baby."
"What?" his parents gasped.
"Gramma's gonna have a baby?" Meredith asked her uncle.
He nodded. "Merri, why don't you go sit with Regina while I talk to Gramma and Grampa a bit."
"Okay. Gramma, that's so cool! I'm gonna have another aunt or uncle!" she said excitedly and ran to tell Regina.
"She handled that better than I expected," Archie murmured, taking Lilly in his arms. "Rumple, are you sure?"
"I sense her aura."
"Her?"
"Yes, Mama." He giggled. "And it's a good thing you got married when you did. You're going to be showing soon."
"How long?"
He smirked. "Since that weekend in Boston."
"But that was after Rumple's Halloween party."
"I don't understand. I haven't had any symptoms."
"Because you couldn't, Mama. You were still under Ozmalita's memory spell. The minute you awakened Zorinda could sense you…and she can sense my sister too. I can't lose you again, Mama. Come to Juno with me."
"But Rumple needs our help!"
"He'll have all the help he can get. From all the realms."
"The time the realms unite…" Lilly recited.
"That time is now, Mama."
We go to the mattresses, he sent to his wife.
The Spinning Wheel Bar and Grille
Gold Chronicles Verse
Juno Beach, Florida
That same day
"Everybody listen up!"
Belle snapped her fingers, turning off all the television sets in the barroom and the game rooms. "Storybrooke Five is under attack and they might need our help!"
"Under attack from what?" asked their bartender Will Scarlet.
"Zorinda and pirates of the Captain Hook variety. We're going to the mattresses, gentlemen. I want everyone back here in one hour ready to move."
"Okay Belle Corleone," Will joked.
Everyone ran out of the bar and back home to get ready.
Once the bar was deserted Belle picked up the phone dialed a number.
"Hey Gramma, what's up?"
"We go to the mattresses Henry."
"Got it….MOM!" he yelled and ran downstairs to the patio where his parents were having glasses of iced tea.
"What is it Henry?"
"We go to the mattresses."
"Bae, go get Zee and Angelo and tell them to meet us at the Grille!" Emma ordered and vanished in a puff of smoke.
An hour later Rumple arrived with his parents, niece and cousin.
Jiminy moved to the front of the crowd with Az.
"Pongo! Demon form!" he commanded.
"Perdy! Demon form!" Az ordered.
The two Dalmatians ran out of their kennel and took their mobat demon forms.
"Okay, Tin Man, let's roast some pirates!" DG cried and leaped onto Wyatt's back.
Henry slammed the tip of the staff into the ground and a swirling blue portal appeared before them. Wyatt let out a roar in his dragon form and flew through the portal with his wife still riding on his back, the mobat demons flying behind him. Jiminy turned to Az and kissed her passionately.
"I love you Dellia. Wait up for me and sculpt us like one of those French girls."
"Always," she whispered and kissed him back. A few feet away his twin was bidding his wife farewell.
"This isn't a bunch of crazy teenagers shooting up a bus David. These are pirates," Beth reminded her husband.
"Remind me to ask your father to tell you about the time he and I sent a crew of them screaming back to the ocean the day they tried to break into your grandfather Hubert's castle. And I was a cricket then. Besides, you know who always has my back." He glanced over to where his fellow former police officers waited, all of them wearing bulletproof vests they'd kept from their years with the SFPD. "This Storybrooke may not be our home but these people are our family too and we need to protect them. They'd do the same for us." He kissed her. "Wait up for me Sleeping Beauty…and wear something nice."
She grinned. "Hmmm…a visit from your favorite cheerleader may be in order."
"Oh boy!"
"It's time to go David," Phillip reminded him, Aurora and Mulan at his side in their battle armor.
"You're going in Mama?"
"I do know how to fight Elizabeth," Aurora said testily. "And you can thank Philip, Mulan and Snow for that."
Snow laughed. "Just like old times, isn't Emma."
"Yeah but thank God we don't have Captain Guyliner to deal with," Emma muttered. "Remind me if I ever go to Storybrooke Two to beat some sense into my counterpart there. Marrying that dick. Hey Bae. I thought you were staying behind with your dad."
Bae shook his head. "I go where you go Swan. Papa understands."
"You bring my son back in one piece dearie!" Rumple ordered.
"Don't I always. I…oh my God!" She doubled over with laughter as Zelena flew past them on a broom. "Zee's going in?"
"She's part of our air support," Snow explained and pointed to Blue and her coven of fairies shrinking themselves before they followed Zelena through the portal. "Let's go!"
Archie stood on the sidewalk, his arm around Lilly and a hand on his granddaughter's shoulder while they watched the survivors of Nonestica marching into battle for people most of them had never met but felt a kinship with. Little Regina stood beside them holding Princess's leash with one hand and her mother's hand in the other. They were terrified for the safety of those who stayed behind in Storybrooke yet grateful that so many people were willing to help, heroes and former villains yet that day they would all be heroes.
"Lilly, why don't I take Meredith with Regina and me to Missus Ozopov's house?"
"Thank you Snow. Do you want to go to Missus Ozopov's house with Regina?" Lilly inquired of her granddaughter. Meredith nodded enthusiastically.
"Okay. We'll see you later then." Archie and Lilly hugged their granddaughter and returned to where Rumple was sitting, taking a rest. He gestured and teleported them to his mansion, a large Seeing Globe set up in the middle of his living room. Lilly gasped in shock.
"Mama's globe! Rumple, how did you find it?"
"It was among the many other magical items the previous Dark Ones stole, Mama."
"It looks like the Wicked Witch's crystal ball in the Wizard of Oz."
"Bastinda stole it from my mother, Mama stole it back and Zorinda took it from her."
"Show us Storybrooke Five," her son commanded it. They made themselves comfortable on the sofa and watched as a fierce battle raged on land and sea in Storybrooke Five most of the day. Zorinda had been defeated but she'd summoned two of the most feared beasts in the Greek pantheon. Scylla and Charybdis. Charybdis, or 'Biddy' would prove to be little match for Loki, but it was his great-grandson Rumplestiltkin Laufeyson-Gold that would defeat Scylla.
"Well, now that you've taken care of that mess….get yer arses over here so we can celebrate!" Rumple yelled into the glass. "Evangeline! Get the grills fired up dearie!"
"Already on it Rumple!" she called back.
Rumple stood up and held out his arm for Lilly. "Archie, may I escort my mother to dinner?"
"Go on. You've waited long enough for it."
He watched with a smile as mother and son walked out onto the patio together. He was hoping he would have some time with his stepson alone before all the guests arrived and while was helping Evangeline and Belle he seized the opportunity and approached Rumple.
"I'd like to talk to you for a bit if you don't mind," Archie said to him.
"We can use my office." Rumple stood up, leaning on his cane, waving Archie off when he moved forward to assist him. "Now what's on your mind?"
"I don't want things to be awkward between us. My being married to Lilly doesn't mean she's just going to forget you. I don't know that much about her life before I met her, but I do know that she's always loved you before she remembered you."
"I lived most of my life thinking she was just another one of my father's byblows that dumped me off on him because she dinna want to take care of me. I dinna know how yer Rumple's life with his da was Archie but mine wasna a walk in the park."
"I gathered that when you basically wished for him to rot in Hell."
Before his stepfather's astonished eyes Rumple reached into his chest and pulled out his heart. He waved his hand over it and it divided into pieces. He floated one of the pieces over to Archie.
"W…What do I do with that?" he gulped.
"That's where all our memories lie, dearie."
"Why is your heart split like that?"
"Because not all the pieces belong to me. They belong to those I love and whom love me. Their hearts are divided the same way. That piece you hold in your hand belongs to me and it has all my memories…and the ones Mama gave me before she died all those years ago. Hold it in your hand and see as I see. Feel as I feel."
You have no idea how long I've waited for this. Once I'm done with you I'll find that bastard you've spawned and crush him into dust too."
You'll never find him.
You should've paid more attention to your lessons, Zori. Even the Dark One's powers or the talisman can't break a protection spell on a heart's memories.
No matter. I'll find your brat without them.
"Lilly," Archie moaned, clutching the heart piece tightly.
A child can't have a child, Rumple!
"You bastard, you miserable heartless BASTARD!" Archie sobbed. "He was just a child…your child. She trusted you with his life damn you and you ABANDONED HIM!"
I know how to recognize a desperate soul...and it was your destiny...the darkest of curses by a Strogoff shall be taken and through a sacrifice in the name of true love the curse by a Strogoff shall be broken...
You coward. You promised. Don't break our deal!
"It was the curse," Archie sniffled. "Alemedia knew Bae was one your anchors and she had to separate you. Just like she separated you and Belle."
"T...The...darkest of curses by a Strogoff was taken... and with my sacrifice...in the names of those I love...let this curse and all those created by it at last...be...broken!"
He now saw Rumple on Main Street in his own Storybrooke, sacrificing himself to end the Dark One curse and save his family from his father's version of the Dark Curse.
"You should've been my son. Mine! Not his!" Archie growled and embraced the older sorcerer.
"I wish I had been," Rumple murmured. "Ye would hae been a better da to me than mine was. Promise me ye'll be a good da to my wee sister."
"I intend to be."
Archie handed the heart piece back. Rumple merged it with the others and shoved it back into his chest.
"Is everything all right in here?" Lilly asked worriedly.
"Dinna fash yerself Mama. We're fine."
"Good because I don't want my son and husband fighting."
"Oh we willnae fight as long as he's a good mon t'ye."
"Oh come here!" she laughed and hugged them. "My handsome men. Come on. Our guests will be arriving soon and hungry!"
An hour later everyone from Storybrooke Five arrived as well as some of their friends from Hyperion Heights.
"Rumple, you have something on your mind. What is it?" Lilly asked her son after dinner.
"Mama, I know you and Archie are already married but would you be willing to do it again?" He glanced over at his stepfather. "I never got the chance to give her away."
"You will now. I'd marry your mother as many times as she or you want me to."
"You are going to have the Ozian wedding you should, Mama. Oh how I wish you'd been able to attend mine!"
"Then I suppose you and Belle will have to get married again, now won't you?"
"Yes we will," her son replied with a smile. "Mama, I was thinking we could have your wedding here…over Christmas."
"Having my son give me away to the man I love is the best Christmas gift I could ask for," Lilly said softly. "But there's something else on your mind, isn't it?"
"Just as it's on his mind, Mama." he said, indicating Gold. "I want to do what we couldn't do for Nonestica. I want to bring all the realms together. All of us in one place, where we can protect each other."
"Then do it honey."
"You think I can?"
"I know you can! I know you can find a way together." Lilly encouraged.
"But first I want to walk you down the aisle and give you away."
Juno Beach, Florida
Christmas Eve, 2018
"….Who gives this woman to this man?" Storybrooke Two's Archie Hopper asked.
"I, Rumplestiltskin, of the House of Strogoff, do give my mother Lilliana to this man in matrimony," Rumple announced proudly.
"And who gives this man to this woman?"
"I, Geppetto, representative of the House of Hopper do give my friend Archibald to this woman in matrimony."
"Archie, Lilliana, you may now speak your vows,"
The couple faced each other, hands joined.
"You came back to this world to be reunited with the son you gave your life for; a sacrifice I know you would make again willingly but you were also sent back to find the missing piece of your heart," Archie said softly. "You could've chosen any man in all the realms, but you chose me, a former thief and cricket. I feel like I'm the luckiest man in the realms. I didn't know you were a goddess when I met you and I didn't need to know you were to love you." He reached out and caressed her cheek. "I love you in this life Lilliana Strogoff Hopper, my goddess of light and every life beyond. I would say so much more but I would prefer to say it when we're alone."
"I was born a goddess and I died a goddess, but I was reborn a mortal woman and as a mortal woman I fell in love with a mortal man. I didn't care that he was former thief or a cricket. They were just little bricks on the road to you becoming the man you were meant to be, the man who held the missing piece of my heart without my knowing it. But when the day comes that I must return to Paradise again, my heart is filled with joy that I will not be making that journey alone and no matter how many more times I'm reborn, I know you'll be there waiting for me. I love you forever Archie Strogoff Hopper."
"Archibald Hopper, is it your intention to bind yourself heart body and soul to your bride?"
"It is my intention."
"Lilliana, is it your intention to bind yourself heart, body and soul to your groom."
"It is my intention."
"Ah, I am sorry we are late."
"Aramon!" Rumple gasped.
All eyes turned to see a man with jet black hair and long black robes standing there with a young woman on his arm. The Ozians, including the bride clenched their hands into fists, pressed them against their shoulders and knelt.
"Ah, Loki...how long has it been comrade?"
Aramon's cane tapped a rhythm on the tiled marble floor as he approached the Norse god that had been his closest friend in the days when he could walk the mortal realm freely.
"Too long by half, friend Aramon," Loki replied in Russian.
"You can blame the witch I called my wife's sister for that. She stripped me of my powers and exiled me in Ephesis until my descendants freed me. I warned Lurline and Alemedia I would be the last one standing and I am."
"I am glad you are," Loki replied, switching to English and embracing his fellow deity. "You and I, we don't quietly into that good night."
"No, we do not but tell me...why are some of these ladies staring at me? Do I have a stain on my robes?"
Little Killian Gold nudged his grandfather. "He really does look like Sev Grampa!" referring to Severus Snape of the Harry Potter novels.
"He can take any form he wants to, but he's always looked like Alan Rickman to us," said Belle.
"I admired the man's work greatly," said Aramon.
Loki introduced Aramon to his daughter, Miri and nephew Modi.
"And now, if you will allow me, I would like to complete the final ritual of the ceremony. Child, release your glamour spell."
"Mama!" Lilly sobbed.
"Glinda!" the others exclaimed for it was Glinda The Good herself.
Aramon tapped his cane three times and a puff of smoke appeared in the room revealing a man wearing a top hat and a long cloak.
"I am the Great and Terrible…"
"…Wizard of Oz…" Loki chuckled. "In your dreams maybe, Alexander or are you going by the Mystic Man now?"
"I'll use the name I was given in my first life. I am the father of the bride after all."
"Papa," Lilly sobbed and threw her arms around them.
"Lilliana…our light," Glinda whispered.
"I've missed you both so much!"
"As we've missed you, darling girl," said the Mystic Man.
Aramon placed his hand on Lilly's head.
"Your journey to find your heart has been a long and painful one my dear but now we must make that bond complete. Rise, my children. Glinda and Alexander, you may begin."
Glinda reached into her daughter's chest and removed her heart, placing it in Lilly's palm as the Mystic Man removed Archie's. They waved their hands over the glowing organs and the guests unfamiliar with the spell watched with awe as they split into two pieces, one glowing red in the couples' palms' the other hovering above them glowing white.
"Lilliana, take the unclaimed piece of your heart in your hand and speak the name of the person it belongs to," her mother instructed. "But first you must recite the incantation if you remember it."
"See as I see
Feel as I feel
Let our two hearts become one
Not even in death shall this bond be undone!" she recited passionately. "Archie Strogoff Hopper!" Her heart piece floated over to where the groom stood.
"Archie, if you wish to claim this heart, take it in your hand and hold it to your chest until it disappears. You will feel a bit of pain at first," The Mystic Man informed his son-in-law. The groom did so without the slightest hesitation, the piece vanishing once he pressed it against his chest.
"Archie take the unclaimed piece of your heart in your hand and speak the name of the one it belongs to. You must recite the same incantation. Do you remember it?"
"See as I see
Feel as I feel
Let our two hearts become one
Not even in death shall this bond be undone!" he repeated. "Lilliana Strogoff Hopper," he murmured before he released his heart piece. She held it against her chest until it vanished, and Glinda and the Mystic Man returned the other pieces to their bodies. They then stepped back.
"I am now yours, heart body and soul Archie Hopper and I will love you in this life and the next," Lilly said through her tears, her hand on his chest as his was on hers, covering their joined hearts.
"I am now yours heart, body and soul Lilliana Strogoff Hopper and I will love you in this life and the next."
"And by the will of the gods and the state of Florida, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Archie, you may…HEY! I didn't get to that part yet!" Archie Two protested when the groom swept his wife into his arms for a kiss.
"Do the short, short version!" Archie commanded as he briefly broke their kiss.
"Good. You're married. Kiss her! There! That satisfy you!"
"Finally!" Archie exclaimed and kissed his wife again.
"Oh, come on! You didn't have to wait that long!" Archie Two grouched. "Now do us a favor and save the rest of it for later!"
The couple gave each other heated looks.
"Dinna even think about skipping out on the reception, dearies!" Rumple wagged a finger at his parents.
Lilly grinned. "Oh, you mean like Az, Jiminy, Wyatt and DG did?"
"Yes."
"Come on Meri!" Regina and Meredith jumped out of their seats and began throwing rose petals on the couple. Archie scooped up his granddaughter and hugged her.
"You did a fabulous job, Meri!" He kissed her cheek. "Your gramma and I are so proud of you."
"I want a ceremony like that when I get married Grampa."
"Hopefully NOT until you're in your Fifties!"
"Like you?" she countered with a smirk.
"It may be later," he teased and set her back on her feet, a lump rising in his throat when Lilly's parents were waiting for him at the doorway. "You…your Highnesses…"
"You can relax Archie. We know you will be a good husband to our daughter. Our grandson will see to that," Glinda chuckled.
"My stepson," Archie laughed. "And he's older than me!"
Lilly hugged her parents again, not wanting to let them go but she knew their time in the mortal realm was limited and she knew they would want to talk to their old friend Loki. Everyone was asked to wait outside while the ballroom was being reset for the reception.
It was a wonderful evening with plenty of laughter and hijinx from the guests. After Archie and Lilly big goodnight to their guests the parents started getting their children ready for bed. Many of the couples enjoyed seeing the heart division spell and expressed a desire to have it done on them before Christmas morning. The realms were uniting but there was one last task to be done.
Juno Beach, Florida
Christmas Night, 2018
"We call upon all of the powers of the light...let our worlds here and beyond at last unite!"
The Guardians of the Six realms along with Loki and the newly resurrected Persephone Diosa stood in the center of Rumple's ballroom, hands joined as they chanted in Ozian, their friends and family gazing into the mirror as a wonderous sight met their eyes, five realms merging into one and a world that was lost made anew with love, the strongest magic of all.